Head of Outdoor Education - Edition 9 - 2019

The following expeditions are available during Terms 2, 3 and 4. Information packs can collected from the OED office, on Inspire at Play@West Outdoor Education or follow the links below.

Website Home Page: https://inspire.westminster.sa.edu.au/Play/OutdoorEducation/Pages/default.aspx

Saturday 29 June to Tuesday 2 July - Four-day bushwalk in the scenic and rugged Edeowie Gorge near Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges. Suitable for all levels.

Sunday 7 to Saturday 13 July - Telemark Cross Country ski trip near Falls Creek staying in a mountain hut and exploring alpine regions on skis. Suitable for experienced students.

Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 August - Three-day introduction to Mountain Bike riding on established bike trails in the Adelaide Hills. Suitable for Bronze or Silver students.

Saturday 31 August to Monday 2 September - Three-day introduction to rockclimbing conducted in the Adelaide Hills and local indoor venues. Suitable for Bronze and Silver students.

Friday 27 September to Tuesday 1 October - Four days of rockclimbing at the world famous Mt Arapiles in Victoria. Suitable for Bronze to Gold students with prior rockclimbing experience.

Friday 27 September to Tuesday 1 October - Four days of bushwalking on Kangaroo Island along the world famous Wilderness Trail. Suitable for Bronze to Gold students.

Tasmania Expedition December 2019

We are conducting this biennial event for experienced students working on their Silver or Gold Award. The multi-activity expedition includes a four-day walk in pristine mountain sub-alpine terrain, followed up with some rockclimbing and whitewater kayaking. The trip has 21 available spots.

You can view the video of the 2017 Adventure at https://youtu.be/PTbCDaeAvf4

Mt Remarkable Bushwalk

On the June long weekend 30 Westminster students participated in a three-day bushwalk within the Mount Remarkable National Park. A range of enthusiastic students from Year 8 and 9 (organised into four groups) started and finished their journey from the popular Mambray Creek Picnic area.

Students were self-sufficient, carrying everything for three days (apart from water available each day) in rucksacks. All camped at different campsites on the first evening and were split between camping on top of The Battery and at Hidden Camp on the second night. The groups navigated on tracks and across untracked scenic terrain, developing their navigation skills, under the guidance of instructors.

Although the temperature was quite cool during the evenings, the clear skies enabled brilliant star gazing opportunities, as well as excellent weather for walking during the days. Highlights of the trip included walking amongst massive River Red-gums between the rugged and vibrant red cliffs of the gorges (including Alligator Gorge); many creeks with flowing water; rock scrambling up and over obstacles in the gorges; overlooking the northern tip of the Spencer Gulf and beyond from a high vantage point (both during daylight and at night); taking in the beautiful scenery and spending time with school friends out of the classroom.

The staff were thoroughly impressed with the way students conducted themselves throughout the expedition; being well prepared, developing new bushwalking and camp-craft skills and proudly displaying responsible risk-taking and environmentally friendly behaviour. The staff look forward to future journeys with these students.

The expedition was a big success for staff and students alike.

Thanks to Julie Engelhardt, Jimmy Ashby ('16), Dan McArthur ('18) and Caleb Staple for assisting and instructing on the trip.

Year 8 and 9 Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Program

Over 90 students from Year 8 and 9 have taken up the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program in 2019. So far, students are working on completing their practice expeditions, started to record their winter sport as their physical recreation section, have nominated a hobby/skill activity and are actively seeking community service activities. Other expedition opportunities are available in Term 3 from the list above.

All students have to record their activities on the new ORB (online registration book).

Thanks to Julie Engelhardt and Rob McLean ('99) for their facilitation with the program.

If students still wish to ‘sign-up’ they need to visit the OED office for details or contact me via Email.

Information about the Award can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX09zAStCGg or the Westminster version can be viewed at https://inspire.westminster.sa.edu.au/Play/OutdoorEducation/Pages/default.aspx

Film submissions - 2019 WOSOG (Westminster Old Scholar Outdoor Group) Film Festival

We are looking for films you have created that capture recent outdoor action, adventure or have environmental themes. Films capturing Outdoor Education camps and Duke of Edinburgh's Award trips are certainly welcomed, along with other preferred personal activities or adventures.

The WOSOG Film Festival will be on Sunday 15 September. It is an evening to celebrate and share recent outdoor experiences and achievements.

Entries (10 minutes maximum) will need to be submitted by the beginning of September.

This will be the fourth year we have run the event and we plan for it to be the biggest and best yet – hoping for over 100 guests this year.

There are first ($100), second ($50) and third ($25) Paddy Pallin gift voucher prizes, plus a guaranteed minimum $50 Paddy’s voucher for the best student video – judged by a Paddy Pallin staff member.

Any queries, please contact Mr Rob McLean ('99).

Please advise me if you intend to submit a film (whether it is finished or currently a work in progress).

Gordon Begg
Head of Outdoor Education